FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Spartans will rely on experienced offensive line

Tuesday

Sep 2, 2014 at 6:20 PMSep 2, 2014 at 6:25 PM

For Bishop Stang, it all starts with the big guys up front. The Spartans boast an experienced, athletic offensive line that features all seniors with varsity experience. “Everyone is back,” said Bishop Stang head coach Ryan Silvia.

Mike ThomasHerald News Sports Editor

For Bishop Stang, it all starts with the big guys up front.

The Spartans boast an experienced, athletic offensive line that features all seniors with varsity experience.

“Everyone is back,” said Bishop Stang head coach Ryan Silvia. “The line will be the strength of our team. We’re a run team. We think run first. We’ve been building this line for a couple of years.”

The OL will be anchored by senior captain guards Jeff Carvalho and Nick Caswell, who will be sandwiching senior center Frederick Kalisz.

Cory Arden and Jake Bianchini will be lining up at tackle, while Mack Long will be the tight end.

“Everything starts with the offensive line,” Silvia said. “I think the key for us this year is the play of our offensive and defensive lines. We also have to try and limit our mistakes. We have to make sure we take care of the football.”

Junior quarterback Matt Golden returns to the Spartans, but an injury will sideline him for at least the first game of the season, meaning senior captain Mike Mello will be taking the snaps from center when the Spartans travel to Wareham on Friday.

“I’m confident with Mike running the offense,” Silvia said. “He was our backup quarterback last year. It was a tough decision between him and Matt last year. Mike is a very smart player. I don’t know how long Matt will be out, but he won’t be ready for Week 1.”

Behind the quarterback, the Spartans will feature a young backfield featuring sophomore Nick Landry and a pair of juniors halfbacks in Jeff Chicca and Andrew Camacho.

The wideouts will be senior captain Mike Chicca and Denis Adams, another senior.

Defensively, many of the offensive lineman will play on the DL, although senior George Silvia and and sophomore Malik Perry should see significant time on the line.

Matt Doane, a junior, will contribute as an inside linebacker, while junior Jordon Mello will be filling in at cornerback.

A year ago, the Spartans got off to a 4-2 start, including wins over Durfee and Bishop Feehan that helped propel them into the newly formed MIAA playoffs. Bishop Stang, however, failed to win a game after winning at Feehan 14-7 on Oct. 19 and finished the season with five straight losses.

“We got into the playoffs because of that Feehan win,” Silvia said. “In the playoffs, we played three league champions and got better each game.

“Some have criticized the EAC for being down last year. I think the league will be up for grabs. I think everyone will be improved. We are looking at it as if we are the team to beat.”